Mawarnkarra urges people to get vaccinated, as they deliver 160 diphtheria vaccines
Mawarnkarra Health Service’s Registered Nurse Georgia Mills has been out delivering diphtheria vaccines around Roebourne in the Pilbara this week. Image: Samara Diaz
Almost 150 people living across northern Western Australia have been infected with diphtheria this year, as a Pilbara health service has been going door-to-door with vaccinations for locals.
The state government’s latest figures show 117 people in the Kimberley and 24 in the Pilbara have contracted the disease so far this year - a disease most often connected to poor living conditions.
Mawarnkarra Health Service health staff have been visiting homes in Roebourne, providing 160 vaccinations in the past fortnight, and to support families, answer questions and check vaccination records.
Registered nurse Georgia Mills, said the team was focused on making sure people understand what diphtheria is and how to prevent it.
“What we’re doing this week is we are just going out into community, making sure people are aware of what diphtheria is, making sure vaccinations are up to date, and just informing community or finding out any questions that community may have,” she told Ngaarda Media.
The Mawarnkarra Health Service team is out and about with diphtheria vaccines in Roebourne and surrounds this week. Image: Supplied.
There are two types of diphtheria, respiratory diphtheria, that can cause a sore throat, fever, swollen glands and breathing difficulties; and cutaneous, or skin diphtheria, that can appear as sores that do not heal.
Georgia said both forms were being watched closely.
“Currently, we’re seeing both strains in the community, and we’re just hoping that we can get out into the community and make sure community understand what diphtheria is, and how we can prevent it, and also how we can treat it,” she said.
“By vaccinating, you are protecting yourself, but you are also protecting those that are more vulnerable than you — so our elders or our babies.”
People are being encouraged to seek help if they have a sore throat, fever, swollen glands, trouble breathing, or skin sores that are not healing.
Anyone unsure when they last had a diphtheria booster can contact Mawarnkarra Health Service, on (08) 9182 0850, and staff can check your family’s vaccination records and provide advice.